15 of the best ski resorts in Europe for 2018

Thinking of heading off on a skiing adventure this year?

If you love mountains, specifically getting to the top of them and sliding down to the bottom, or you simply love the thought of wrapping up with a warm glass of gluhwein as you gaze out on a snowy panorama, we’ve rounded up the best places to head for ski and apres-ski in Europe.

Whether you want to rub shoulders with a millionaire on the mountain or plan a family-friendly escape, here’s our run-down of the best places to hit the slopes…

Val d’Isere, France

(Shutterstock / Michael Sheridan)

More Britons head here for their ski fix than any other place in the world – and with good reason. This resort in the French Alps has the charm of a typical Alpine village, but is linked to neighbouring Tignes to form a ski area of 300km of pistes and 94 lifts – so everyone from the complete beginner to the snow veteran can feel challenged here.

Courchevel, France

(Shutterstock / Julia Kuznetsova)

Méribel Mottaret: where to stay, ski and aprés

Just one of the ski resorts in one the largest linked ski areas in the world, Courchevel forms part of the Three Valleys, which boasts 600 kilometres of prepared and maintained pistes. The ski terrain is mostly intermediate, but there are plenty of easy areas for beginners. The clientele at Courchevel, despite it previously being a locals’ resort, is now rich and glamorous – boasting skiers from Russia, Japan and Brazil. As such, the area is one of Europe’s most sophisticated ski resorts, with nine luxury five-star hotels, five regular four-stars and 13 three-star properties, many of which are far more luxurious than their star rating implies.